DEFINITION
Much is written these days about the importance of leadership to an organization. No stronger case can be made for good leadership than the one made in the Bible, especially in the fifth chapter of Peter’s first letter:
And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share his glory and his honor when he returns. As a fellow elder, this is my appeal to you: Care for the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly – not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eater to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your good example. And when the head Shepherd comes, your reward will be a never-ending share in his glory and honor.
1 Peter 5:1-4
For the church to operate in the way God intended, it must be led by the right people and in the right way. And while the Bible does not contain a sample set of church bylaws, it certainly is not silent on the subject of church leadership. It gives us some insight into church organization, and it gives us substantial insight into who should lead the church and what their qualifications should be. It also gives us substantial insight into what those church leaders should do, how they should do it, and what their motivation should be.
Two Offices
According to the New Testament, there are two leadership positions in the church. One of those official positions is called elders, which is a leadership position. The other is called deacons, which is a service position. The Bible teaches that the church is to be led by a group of spiritually qualified elders who know the Word of God and submit to its authority. In fact, the effectiveness of a church is, to some measure, dependent upon the quality of its leaders.
Since leadership is so critical to the effectiveness of the church, it is important to look carefully at what the Bible says about both the elder’s role in the church and the congregation’s role in identifying those who will lead them.
What Is An Elder?
The idea of “elders” comes from ancient Judaism. The elders of Israel were a special group of men who were recognized as the spiritual leaders of the community. They were expected to pass judgments, make decisions, resolve conflicts, give direction, and oversee the ordinary operation of the society. In ancient Israel, the “elder” was the only commonly used term for leadership that was clearly different from either the king or the priests. Likewise, the New Testament scriptures clearly teach the elders are the primary leaders in the church. Some of our greatest insight into this leadership position comes from the words used in the Bible to describe it. Three separate Greek words are used in the New Testament to speak of the office of elder.
The first and most commonly used term is nearly always translated “elder.” The word is used 67 times in the New Testament and is used most frequently to describe one of mature age, an older person. More specifically, the term is used 28 times to refer to the group of official spiritual leaders of Israel. The word is also used 12 times in the book of Revelation to refer to the “twenty-four elders,” who are a representation of all the believers who comprise the church.
In the New Testament, the book of Acts highlights the history of the early church, while the epistles clarify its doctrine. In Acts and the epistles, this word is used some 20 times to refer to a group of spiritual leaders in the church. From the very earliest writings on the church, it was clear that the church was to be led by a group of spiritual leaders. Nearly every church mentioned in the New Testament is specifically said to have had elders.
The second Greek word used to speak of this group of spiritual leaders is used only 5 times in the New Testament and is translated in the more modern translations as “elder.” The word literally means “overseer.” This word emphasizes the management, stewardship, and oversight responsibilities of the elder. In the Greek culture, overseers were appointed by the emperor to oversee captured cities. The overseer was responsible to the emperor, but was expected to manage (oversee) the city. To the Greek mind, then, the concept of overseer spoke of two things: accountability to a higher power, and a new way of doing things.
The third Greek term used to speak of elders is predominantly translated “shepherd.” Only once, in ephesians 4:11, is it translated “pastor,” and then it is used with the word “teacher.” This word describes the attitude of the elder. He must have a shepherd’s heart. It is no coincidence that one of the gifted men God gave to the church is one who uses the gift of teaching to feed and care for (that is, to shepherd) the church.
What Is An Elder’s Relationship To The Pastor?
It is clear from Scripture that these three terms do not refer to three different positions, but to one. In Acts 20, the Apostle Paul addressed the elders [first word – elder] of the church in Ephesus (v. 17). In verse 28, he said to those elders:
And now beware! Be sure that you feed and shepherd [third word – shepherd] god’s flock – his church, purchased with his blood – over whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders [second word – overseer].
Acts 20:28
Likewise, in 1 Peter 5:1-2, all three terms are used again and clearly refer to the same office:
And now, a word to you who are elders [first word – elder] in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share his glory and his honor when he returns. As a fellow elder, this is my appeal to you: Care for [third word – shepherd] the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it [second word – oversee] willingly, not grudgingly – not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.
1 Peter 5:1-2
Again, it is clear from these references that the spiritual leaders of the church are elders, overseers, and pastors. For many people this causes confusion about the relationship of the elders to the one traditionally called “pastor.” That confusion is unnecessary. The relationship is very simple.
The Pastor
Most churches today, including LifeWay Church, have senior pastoral staff. It may be one person or more than one. The scope of responsibilities varies from church to church, but most commonly, the senior pastoral staff are the primary preacher-teachers and sometimes carry a wide range of administrative responsibilities as well. In reality, the title “pastor-teacher” (Ephesians 4:11) is a more accurate description of their role and responsibilities. As far as leading and governing the church, the senior pastoral staff members are fully elders. They are not at another level of leadership, either above or below the elders. But because of their teaching responsibilities, they have a unique influence among the people of God.
While all elders must be able to teach in some context, they may be predominantly gifted in some other area of ministry. Pastor-teachers, however, must be gifted to teach publicly. That is their unique role, and while pastor-teachers may be given some overall administrative and leadership responsibilities, their primary responsibility and highest priority must be teaching God’s Word.
What Do Elders Do?
Even a casual look at some key passages highlights some of the major functions of an elder. Elders are to:
Manage
1 Timothy 3:1-7 contains the qualifications of an elder. One of the key qualifications is described in verses 4 and 5: He must manage his own family well, with children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? In other words, one function the elder is expected to perform is to take care of the church, to manage the church.
Rule
In 1 Timothy 5:17, Paul wrote: Elders who do their work [literally, rule] well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. Two specific functions are enumerated in this verse. First, elders are to rule, preferably well. This function speaks of the leadership and decision-making responsibilities of the elder.
Preach-Teach
Elders are also to work hard at preaching and teaching. Preaching is the proclamation of the Word, primarily to unbelievers, for the purpose of salvation. Teaching is the proclamation of the word, primarily to believers, for the purpose of maturity. To be more specific, Titus 1:9 indicates that the elder will be able to encourage others with right teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong. Simply stated, elders determine what is doctrinally correct, and then they proclaim and defend that body of truth.
Shepherd
Acts 20:28 lists yet another function that is clearly related to the elder’s teaching ministry: “And now beware! Be sure that you feed and shepherd God’s flock … over whom the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.” The elder is to shepherd the flock. The immediate context of this verse makes it clear that the shepherding is feeding (encouraging others with right teaching) and guarding and protecting (showing those who oppose it where they are wrong).
What Are The Qualifications Of A Good Elder?
When one reviews the list of functions that elders are to do, the importance of selecting the right leaders is obvious.
God has never desired for us to make our choices and then ask Him to bless them. Instead, God calls people to positions of service and leadership, and He simply asks us to confirm that calling. He did not leave us without help in that task of confirmation. In His Word, He gave us a list of qualifications that will be evident in the life of one who is called and adequately prepared – and God never calls someone who is not sufficiently prepared to do the job. While an elder is certainly not expected to be the perfection of all those qualifications, his life must clearly demonstrate both the existence and continual growth of the biblical qualifications.
Two primary passages list the qualifications that demonstrate a man’s preparation to serve as an elder. They are 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. Following are the qualifications listed in those two passages.
Blameless Life
He must be well thought of because of his good life. (Titus 1:6) One whose life cannot be spoken against. (1 Timothy 3:2) One who lives a blameless life. (Titus 1:7) – An elder’s moral character must be so outstanding that no one can legitimately accuse him of wrongdoing.
Faithful To Wife
He must be faithful to his wife. (1 Timothy 3:2 & Titus 1:6) – A direct translation from the original language says that he must be the husband of one wife. While this qualification is hotly debated, the best understanding of this phrase is that an elder must be absolutely devoted and faithful to his wife. That devotion is demonstrated by the love that he has for his wife, the care that he gives her, and the purity with which he conducts his life.
Disciplined
Exhibit self-control (1 Timothy 3:2); Disciplined (Titus 1:8) – An elder must be controlled at all times, both mentally and physically. His lifestyle must be disciplined and well-ordered. He must be well-oriented, alert, and sober in all his evaluations and judgments.
Wise
Live wisely (1 Timothy 3:2 & Titus 1:8) – An elder must have a controlled and stable mind. He is not given to overreactions, nor is he overcome by passions, temptations, or desires. He has control of his mental processes; consequently, he makes wise judgments.
Good Reputation
Good reputation (1 Timothy 3:2) – An elder lives an orderly lifestyle. His life is not chaotic and in disarray. Instead, his outer lifestyle demonstrates the inner control and sound judgment required of an elder. He is recognized for that orderly life.
Hospitable
Enjoys having guests in his home (1 Timothy 3:2 & Titus 1:8) – An elder uses his home for ministry to those who have need for housing and provision, even if the people are strangers. His home is a tool for reaching people and meeting needs.
Able To Teach
Able to teach (1 Timothy 3:2); Able both to encourage others with right teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong (Titus 1:0) – The elder’s priority is to teach the Word of God. This does not imply that all elders must have the gift of teaching. Instead, it speaks more of his knowledge of Scripture and his ability to interpret it accurately. In addition, the elder must have the ability to formulate his Biblical knowledge into understandable doctrinal positions. Whether publicly or privately, he must be able to teach and defend those positions, and he must be able to refute the arguments of those who would teach inaccurate doctrinal views.
Not A Heavy Drinker
Not a heavy drinker (1 Timothy 3:3 & Titus 1:7) – An elder is to be self-controlled in all things, and this statement addresses the issue of alcohol. The elder is never to be drunk. For a man to perform the functions of an elder, he must be controlled by the Holy Spirit of God. Consequently, nothing else can control the man.
Not Violent
Not violent (1 Timothy 3:3 & Titus 1:7) – An elder does not explode in anger and hit people when conflict arises. “Not violent” literally means “no striker.” Temperamental overreactions are not a part of the elder’s life. In the church, physical power or personal intimidation do not make right.
Gentle
Gentler (1 Timothy 3:3) – An elder does not hold tenaciously to his own rights. Instead, he is a “yielding” person, one who is willing to give up his rights for the benefit of someone else. He is not one who destroys people while standing firm on scriptural principles. He uses the Scripture to teach and encourage in love.
Peace Loving
Peace loving (1 Timothy 3:3) – An elder does not love conflict, nor does he foster conflict. Instead, he promotes harmony, unity, and agreement.
Doesn’t Love Money
Doesn’t love money (1 Timothy 3:3); Not greedy (Titus 1:7) – An elder is not strongly motivated by money. The pursuit of money does not captivate his attention. Above all, he is not one who would use less than honest and honorable means to acquire money. The Bible clearly teaches that no man can serve two masters. The elder’s master is not money, and that must be evident in his lifestyle.
Manages Family
Manages his own family well (1 Timothy 3:4) – The proper conduct of the elder’s home and family life must be one of his highest priorities. If he is unable to manage his own family, he is disqualified from managing the church. While ministry is part and parcel of the elder, ministry cannot be at the expense of his family.
Children Who Obey
Children who respect and obey him (1 Timothy 3:4); His children must be believers who are not wild or rebellious. (Titus 1:6) – If a man is to be a leader in the church, then his leadership must first be recognized at home. His children should be believers. In other words, his example should be sufficient to lead them to Christ. If his priority is his family, then he will dedicate himself to his family’s salvation. Additionally, his children must be in submission to him. They must obey him. As a pattern of life, they cannot be rebellious or given to wild living. The elder’s leadership over his children must be conducted with dignity.
Not A New Christian
Not a new Christian (1 Timothy 3:6) – An elder must be a proven, mature Christian, not a recent convert. Scripture does not precisely define the term “recent,” but the issue is clearly one of maturity. An elder must be one with sufficient spiritual maturity to make important spiritual judgments. That takes time and experience. An elder must also guard against any form of pride and conceit, which is a serious concern if the man is young in the faith.
Good Reputation
People outside the church must speak well of him (1 Timothy 3:7) – An elder’s life must be exemplary outside of the church as well as inside. If a man appears to meet all the qualifications concerning his activities inside the church but his life outside the church is different, that’s hypocrisy! And he is disqualified. In other words, the church leader must be the same man seven days a week. He does not act differently in the world than he does in the church.
Not Arrogant
Not arrogant (Titus 1:7) – Elders are not selfish, self-centered or self-willed. They do not always demand their own way. They do not make decisions for their own personal reasons. Arrogant people violate the basic principle of godly leadership, and that is servanthood.
Not Quick-Tempered
Not quick-tempered (Titus 1:7) – An elder does not react quickly and sharply in anger. An important element of an elder’s job is to consider and discuss a wide range of feelings and ideas. If a man reacts quickly and angrily, he limits valuable interchange.
Loves Good
Loves all that is good (Titus 1:8) – An elder loves good. He loves good men. He loves good actions. He is sensitive to what is good; he’s quick to point it out and to praise it. Normally the man who loves good is quite busy doing good as well.
Fair
Fair (Titus 1:8) – The word translated “fair” is often translated “righteous.” An elder must have right standing and right relationships. He must be in right relationship with God. He must be in right relationship with His commandments; that is, he must be obedient. And he must maintain right relationships with all men. Therefore, he must treat everyone fairly and honestly.
Devout
Devout (Titus 1:8) – An elder is one who leads a pure and unpolluted lifestyle. He does not just obey the law, but he is in harmony with the principles of the law – the spirit of the law. The word “devout” is sometimes translated “holy.” An elder is in harmony with the deepest measures of morality.
How Are Elders Selected?
So far, we have considered what an elder is, what he does, and what qualifies him. Next it is important to understand how we go about selecting elders. So that statement is not misunderstood, we need to review some basics. First, we don’t select men to be elders – God does that. We simply attempt to recognize His work and identify the men He has prepared. The Bible does not include a detailed procedure for identifying and selecting elders. Three principles or concepts seem to be prevalent in the New Testament.
Leadership Is Appointed
First, church leadership is appointed. Elders are not elected in the sense of a popular election. Nowhere in Scripture do we see two men in competition for a leadership position in the church. Such behavior would be utterly inconsistent with the nature of spiritual leadership. In plain language, the church is not a democracy; it is a theocracy. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, and our task is to understand what He wants us to do and to get it done.
In the area of leadership the Bible makes is very clear that elders are to be appointed. Paul wrote to Titus in Titus 1:5: I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. In Acts 14:23 Luke recorded the activities of Paul and Barnabas in appointing elders over the churches they had established in Asia Minor during their first missionary journey: Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church and prayed for them with fasting, turning them over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had come to trust.
It is clear from these Scriptures that elders are appointed by the existing spiritual leadership of the body, but they do not give us any details on how that appointment process is to work. The only clue we have is in Titus 1:5 where Paul said to appoint elders “as I instructed you.” In other words, he gave Titus some instructions, but they were not recorded for us.
Involvement Of The Congregation
The second principle which is equally clear in Scripture is that the congregation was intimately involved in the process. While the existing leadership did the appointing, the congregation did the identifying. The best pattern we have comes from Acts 6. In this passage the church selected seven men to hold positions most people refer to as deacons. While this passage does not directly refer to elders, it does establish a pattern for filling leadership positions in the church. That pattern can be summarized into three basic steps:
- The existing spiritual leaders (the apostles in this case) informed the congregation of the required spiritual qualifications.
- The congregation looked among the group to determine whether men were available who met the qualifications.
- The existing spiritual leaders appointed and ordained the qualified men to the position of leadership.
Since the Bible does not provide a step-by-step procedure, some latitude exists in how this pattern is applied, but all elements of the pattern should be employed.
Exercise Great Care
In 1 Timothy chapter 5, Paul highlights the third principle – that we must exercise great care in this process. In verse 22 Paul wrote: Never be in a hurry about appointing an elder. Do not participate in the sins of others. In this verse he added a responsibility for examining carefully those selected by the congregation before they are appointed.
The process that we use here at LifeWay church incorporates the principles just described. That process is itemized here:
- At least annually, the pastor/teacher will teach the congregation on the biblical concepts of spiritual leadership, including the qualifications and duties of church leaders.
- The congregation will be asked to identify the men who are spiritually qualified to serve as elders.
- Members of the congregation may nominate spiritually qualified men for the position of elder. That nomination is done by completing an ELDER NOMINATION FORM (available through the church office). That form is fairly long and is designed to help members document the real spiritual qualifications of the man they are nominating. All parts of the form must be completed, and it must be signed by the individual making the nomination. Unsigned forms will not be considered.
- A Review Committee will be formed to review all of the nominations.
- The Review Committee will evaluate all nominees and compile a preliminary list of qualified candidates. If for any reason a nominee is unqualified, the nomination will be terminated and the member who made the nomination will be advised of their action and the reasons for their action.
- All those included on the list of qualified candidates will be given a copy of the current job description for an elder at LifeWay Church. He is asked to review the job description and determine whether or not he desires to be considered for the position. If he desires to be considered as an elder, he is asked to accept the nomination by completing an ELDER CANDIDATE PROFILE FORM. If the candidate has attended LifeWay Church for less than a year, he will be asked to provide the names of two or three individuals who will complete an ELDER NOMINEE REFERENCE FORM for the candidate. Those references must come from spiritual leaders who have had visibility into the candidate’s life for several years.
- Upon receipt of the appropriate forms from the candidate (and his references, if necessary), the Review Committee will review the forms and schedule an interview.
- The Review Committee will interview all candidates. An interview must include at least the following areas:
Doctrine
Personal Spiritual Life
Study and Devotional Habits
Areas of Ministry and Giftedness
Understanding of Church Leadership
Family Relationships - Subsequent to the interview, the Review Committee will evaluate all remaining nominees, compile a final list of qualified candidates, and submit the list to the Board of Elders. If for any reason a nominee is unqualified, the nomination will be terminated and both the nominee and the member who made the nomination will be advised of their action and the reason for their action.
- The Board of Elders will approve or disapprove the nominees. If a candidate is disapproved, the elders will notify the candidate and will explain in detail the specific reasons for the disapproval. Help, counseling, and/or discipleship will be made available to the individual if he so desires. If the basis for disapproval is that the candidate simply needs time and experience, that individual will be given the opportunity to get that experience.
- The names of those candidates approved by the Board of Elders will be submitted to the whole congregation for their affirmation. At a church meeting, the church membership will be asked if they are willing to follow the spiritual leadership of each candidate. Those candidates affirmed by at least 75% of the membership in attendance will be appointed and ordained as elders.
- Elders are appointed for an indefinite term, but they must receive at least 75% reaffirmation by the membership every two years.
How Is The Congregation To Respond To The Elders?
Elders are called by God. They are affirmed by the witness of men, and they are appointed and ordained by existing spiritual leaders. They are responsible for the direction and operation of the church. They are told to manage, to teach, and to shepherd. The church and all its members come under the authority of the elders.
Respect
Because of that unique responsibility and calling, the Bible says that elders deserve respect. In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 the Apostle Paul wrote: Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work. These verses suggest that the congregation gets to know its elders very well. And as we see close-up the work they do, our response to them is one of love and appreciation.
Accountability
According to Hebrews 13, the amount of joy a leader has is directly related to the obedience and submission of those he leads. Verse 17: Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they know they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this joyfully and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
That certainly does not imply that elders deserve preferential treatment, nor does it imply that they have no accountability. In fact, nothing is further from the truth. Elders are, first of all, accountable to God. Second, elders are accountable to each other. Mutual submission is essential within the group of elders. Third, accountability exists because of the enormous visibility they have. Both people inside and outside of the church are watching him.
Additionally, if an elder sins, the discipline is not lighter; it is heavier. In 1 Timothy 5:19 Paul wrote: Do not listen to complaints against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses to accuse him. Anyone who sins should be rebuked in front of the whole church so that others will have a proper fear of God. Simply stated, be very careful in accusing an elder. You can destroy the man’s ministry and the church’s testimony; but if the accusation is legitimate, he must be disciplined publicly. Preferential treatment is not allowed.